Automatic nut-lock.



J. T. CLARK.

AUTOMATIC NUT LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Witnesses James 17 42am.

Gratis JAMES TEMPLE CLARK, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

AUTOMATICENUT-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed September 24, 1906. Serial No. 385,870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES TEMPLE CLARK, of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Nut-Locks, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to automatic nut locks and is designed as an improvement upon U. S. A. Patent, No. 809,044, dated Jan. 2nd, 1906, granted to me. In the above mentioned patent, the body of the washer comprising the nut look was formed with an approximately flat under surface having raised fingers upon its upper side. It has been found by experiment that fingers bent upwardly from a flat surface are liable tobreak when tempered on account of the short bend which takes place at the junction of the fin 'ers and the washer. To eliminate this difficulty, I have formed the washer with a dished or concave under surface, which allows the fingers to be bent upwardly with a comparatively long sweeping curve. A further advantage in dishing the washer is that it holds the nut constantly in spring tension, which, under certain circumstances,

is very desirable.

Further object-s and advantages will appear from the following drawings and speci fication.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my deviee,Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of my device. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the position of a nut when screwed down and held from backward movement by the outer finger. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 12 of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a cross section on line 3l; of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device and shows the dishing and the curvature of the fingers. Fig. (i is an elevation looking toward one corner of the device.

In the preferred form of my invention I employ a washer 5 of tempered spring steel of suitable thickness and of the shape shown in Fig. 1, having a central circular opening 6 to allow the passage of a bolt therethrough. Extending radially from the central opening are a plurality of fingers 7 preferably three in number, which are cut a suitable distance into the body of the washer. These fingers are pointed at their extremities 8 and are bent upwardly at the center 9 so that the points will normally lie flush with the periphery of the central opening 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The fingers, however, are of such a length that, when flattened down level with the surface of the washer, the pointed extremities 8 will project into the central opening, to the extent of approximately the depth of the thread of a bolt, as shown in Fig. 2. The points of the fingers 7 do not lie normally in a horizontal direction parallel with the surface of the washer, but are bent upwardly from left to right when looking towards the points, as seen in Fig. 3 which shows the finger points inclined from the lower edge 10 to the upper edge designated 9.

It will be understood that the washer, as shown in the drawings, is designed for a right hand threaded bolt, and the purpose of the inclined points is to allow a nut to pass freely from left to right over the finger points without the possibility of the under surface of the nut being caught by the edge of the fingers 7. This allows a nut to be screwed down on the washer without the latter being carried around the bolt with the nut. To further prevent the washer from turning with the nut, the points 15, adjacent the lower edge 10 of the finger 7, are turned in a slightly downward direction so that, when any pressure is placed on the washers, these points will be forced into the material upon which the washer is placed and so prevent the washer from turning.

At the outer periphery of the washer and preferably between the fingers 7, a second series of fingers 12 are cut from the washer, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The middle portions 14 of these fingers form, as shown in Figs. 5 and G, the center of a reverse curve, while the points 13 are bent upwardly as seen. These outer fingers are arranged so that in turning a nut from left to right over the washer, the points of the fingers lie away from the nut.

It will be seen upon reference to Figs. 5

and 6, that the portions 17 of the washer, adjacent the junction of the fingers 7 with the washer, are bent downwardly. In addition to being bent downwardly, the portions i i 4 w w." 5;

17 are also bent obliquely so that the. corners that the same may be readily understood by 19 adjacent the roots of the fingers 12 will be those skilled in the art to which it apperlower than the corners 18 adjacent the points tains, what I claim and desire to secure by of the fingers 12. The purpose of the down Letters Patent is 5 wardly turned corners 19, is to allow the 1. A nut lock comprising a dished washer washer to grip the material upon which it is having a plurality of integral, pointed, raplaced in order to prevent said washer from dial fingers, upwardly curved at their central turning with the nut until it is sufficiently port1ons and adapted, when flattened down, flattened down for the inner points 15 to ento extend into the central opening of the 10 gage said material. washer, and a plurality of integral, reversely As stated above, fingers bent upwardly curved, outer lingers. from a flat surface are weakened by reason 2. A nut lock comprising a dished washer of the short curve which takes place at the of spring metal having a plurality of interoots of the fingers. By dishing the washer, gral, pointed, radial fingers inclined up- 15 however, the sharp curve at the root of each wardly from left to right at their pointed finger is obviated and a long reverse curve is ends, and a plurality of reversely curved produced in the fingers, which allows said finouter fingers. gers to be flattened down by pressure of the 3. A nut lock comprising a dished washer nut without impairing the spring of the having a plurality of integral, pointed, ra-

20 metal. Furthermore, by bending the corners dial fingers, and a plurality of outer fingers,

19 downwardly to lie in a lower plane than said washer having the points adjacent the the corners 18, the outer fingers 12 are given roots of the outer fingers lying in a lower an additionally long reverse curve, which plane than the points adjacent the ends of tends to hold the points 13 above the upper said fingers.

25 surface of the washer. 4. A nut lock comprising a dished washer The operation of the device is as follows of spring metal having a plurality of radial The washer 5 is slipped over the threaded fingers provided with inclined pointed ends, end of the bolt 21 until it rests against the a plurality of downwardly turned points admaterial through which the bolt has been jacent to said fingers, and a series of outer 30 passed. The nut 20 is then screwed down, fingers curved upwardly at their points and and on coming in contact with the inclined downwardly at their roots. points of the fingers 7, passes freely over 5. In a washer having a central opening, a same, as above described. The downwardly plurality of radial fingers having upwardly turned points 19 grip the material upon curved central portions and inclined pointed 35 which the washer is placed and prevent said ends, downwardly extending points in the washer from turning with the nut. The finperiphery of the central opening adjacent to gers 7 are gradually forced down flush with the radial fingers, and a plurality of reversely the surface of the washer and the points 8 curved outer fingers, the roots of which lie are forced from the outer circumference 22 in a lower plane than any other portion of 40 through the thread to the inner circumferthe washer.

ence 23, cutting out a small V-shaped open- 6. A nut lock comprising a dished washer ing, and thus preventing any turning movehaving a plurality of radial fingers with up ment of the washer. As the dished washer wardly bent central portions and inclined becomes flattened through pressure, the pointed ends, a plurality of downwardly 45 points 15 will also'engage the material under turned points adjacent to said fingers, and a the washer to further prevent any turning series of upwardly bent, reversely curved movement. As the nut passes over the finouter fingers, the roots of said fingers lying gers 12, the points 13 are forced downwardly, in a lower plane than any other portion of but immediately upon being released as the the washer.

50 edge of the nut passes over the finger, the 7. A nut lock comprising a trefoil dished points 13 spring back to their normal posiwasher having radial fingers with upwardly tion. When the nut is vsufiiciently tightened, bent central portions and inclined pointed one edge of the same is left against the upends, downwardly turned points adjacent the wardly bent portion 13, as shown in Fig. 2, ends of said fingers, and a plurality of up- 55 thus effectually preventing the nut from wardly bent, reversely curved, outer fingers turning in a backward direction. The dishadapted to lock the nut against return moveing of the washer is found to be especially ment. advantageous the nut is held constantly in 8. A nut lock comprising a trefoil convex spring tension and may be further tightened washer having radial fingers with upwardly 60 atintervals, if necessary, by forcing the bent central portions and inclined pointed dished washer into a flattened condition. ends adapted to engage the thread of a bolt,

he spring tension of a series of nuts is par downwardly turned points adjacent the ends ticularly effective in rail joints. of said fingers, a plurality of upwardly bent,

Having thus described my invention so reverselycurved, outer fingers, and means for 1 I; o I 1 1 @taaemen engaging the under-side of the Washer with i upon its outer edge contiguous to the roots or the material against which it is placed. inner ends of the outer fingers. 10

9. As a new article of manufacture, a nut In witness whereof I. have hereunto set lock, comprising a Washer provided with a my hand in the presence of two Witnesses. dished body, said washer-provided with in- JAMES TEMPLE CLARK. ner and outer fingers, the outer fingers being Vitnesses: reversely curved, and said Washer provided 0. W. TAYLOR, with downwardly-extending portions formed STUART R. \V. ALLEN. 

